I was on my way to shoot a wedding the day it was determined my dad would be going on the ventilator and my family waited until I could get there ....I thought that was hard. I shot a wedding a few days after my dad passed and that was understandably even harder!! . Little did I know we would be leaving my dad's service a couple of weeks later and heading straight to the medical center to see my mother-in-law after she fell causing a brain hemorrhage and drastically escalating her dementia. . Since then my deeply loved mother-in-law went from living independently to being hospitalized to being in rehab, then to an assisted living facility. After numerous trips to the ER, and in-hospital stay, Mark and I decided to move her in with us and when things kept going downhill, Mark and his two brothers decided it was time for hospice. She has been on hospice for about 2 weeks now. . Over the last month, it's been like bringing a newborn home and my normal work schedule literally went out the window. We are adjusting to this new 24-7 routine and though it's HARD, TRYING, and both physically & emotionally DRAINING, Mark and I know it's the right thing. It's certainly not easy or what's best for us or my business but it is most certainly what is best for HER & that's what matters right now!! . While I find myself not having time or words for social media these days and apologizing to my clients for not being early in delivering galleries, the little blessed moments we have shared with her are so worth it!!! She thanks Mark numerous times for taking care of her, prayed out loud for the Lord to protect him, given him a kiss & told him she loves him every night at bedtime. . One of the sweetest moments so far was when out of the blue she wanted to go shopping for Easter for the kids. You have to understand she can no longer walk and pretty much never gets out of bed now but by golly we were going to make it happen. It was not easy but I'm learning there is DEEP JOY in that which is HARD. She didn't have the energy to even hold her head up but in the car on the way to the store, I watched her reach over & grab Mark's hand and told him what a good man he 
Trust me when I say competing against yesterday's version of yourself is actually harder than comparing and competing with others in your industry; however, there is no arguing that it is by far the most rewarding competition yielding the greatest return on your investment of time & energy! I don't know if you have a podcast episode that you have listened to multiple times because it really stings but at the same time encourages?!?! The 'It's Separation Season" on the @edmylett #maxout podcast is one of those for me!! What are your favorite podcasts that both motivate and challenge you? 
OH YEAH!!! This was definitely one of those times when I was saying 'I LOVE MY JOB, I LOVE MY JOB, I LOVE MY JOB' ..... and no, this was NOT a styled shoot and yes, she is just as beautiful on the inside as the outside!!! My beautiful bride, @brooks_hill10 @destination.dc, a stunning peony bouquet from @monicasbrides, the beautiful setting of @ironmanortx, perfect MUAH by @beautybabesmuah, and one stunning bridal gown from @brickhousebridal made this bridal session an evening of pure JOY!!! #ironmanortx #houstonphotographer #houstonweddingphotographer #thewoodlandsphotographer #thewoodlandstx #texasweddingphotographer #destinationweddingphotography #texasweddings #houstonweddings #weddingsinhouston #galvestonweddingphotographer #texasweddingphotographer #houstonengagementphotographer #houstonengagements #shesaidyes #texasweddings #houstonphotographers #cypressphotographer #tomballphotographer #cypressfamilyphotographer #engagementphotographer #texasengagementphotographer #romanticengagements #austinweddingphotographer #destinationweddingphotographer #houstonengagement #ellenreneephotos⠀ 
Hey there!! If we haven't been introduced, I'm Ellen :)⠀ ⠀ YA'LL!!!!! I'm just a little excited over here!! The bathroom tile is going in this week at the cottage. It is starting to feel like our simple little cozy cottage (aka little cutie) is well... a cottage - ha! We actually slept in the cottage last weekend and I was planning to post photos on Sunday since they were expecting snow but we unexpectedly had to leave early that morning so we missed her being all decked out in a blanket of snow.... only the slightest trace was left when we ran back out there Monday evening :( ⠀ ⠀ If you haven't been following me for very long and have no idea what cottage I am talking about, check out the "Our Cottage" highlight in my profile to follow along :) and swipe to see the only tiny little trace of snow...